Bulletin#76 SPRING 2009 IN THIS ISSUE 1 Special Olympics BC Hall of Fame Surrey Athlete and Campbell River 2 How to Reach Us Coaches Inducted into 3 Hart to Heart Croquet Tournament 4 Youth Sports Day 4 Active Start and FUNdamental Programs Special Olympics 5 Canada Cup Strikes Back! 5 Coach Profile BC Hall of Fame 6 2009 SO World Winter Games 7 Athlete Leadership Conference Special Olympics BC is pleased and honoured to announce this year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame. 8 Rally For Champions Athlete Marc Theriault of Surrey along with coaches Maureen Brinson and Harvey Hunter of Campbell River were inducted into the Special Olympics BC Hall of Fame at the Provincial Workshop. 9 Athlete Profile 9 motionball - Six Degrees of Separation Hall of Fame, Athlete Category Marc Theriault has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than a dozen years participating in 10 The Final Fore Golf Tournament 10-pin bowling, curling, figure skating, soccer, and softball. He is the first athlete in Special Olympics BC 11 SOBC Annual Provincial Workshop history to win gold medals at four World Games in three different sports. In 1999, Marc won gold with the Kelowna Grizzlies softball team at the World Games in North 13 Canadian Progress Club Events Carolina. In 2001, Marc won gold in the men’s singles figure skating at the World Games in Alaska. 13 Competition Protocol Then in 2005, Marc won gold at the World Games, this time in the pairs’ figure skating event with partner Alexandra Magee. More recently Marc competed with the Surrey Vipers soccer team in 2007 14 SOBC Award Winners at the World Games in Shanghai, winning gold. Marc is an extraordinary athlete and teammate who 16 JYSK Campaign will be competing, and going for gold in the men’s singles figure skating in 2009, at the World Games 17 Provincial Summer Games, July 2009 in Idaho. In a tearful acceptance speech in front of a standing ovation, Marc’s message was powerful: “Special 17 Safeway Campaign Olympics has changed my life—thank you!” ...continued on next page 18 Sports Celebrities Festival Marc Theriault with Lois 20 Tribute to Eunice Kennedy Shriver McNary, Special Olympics 21 SOBC Staff Changes BC Vice-President (left to right); Karen Theriault, 23 Law Enforcement Torch Run Marc’s mom; and Sharon 25 Car Dealers Foundation Auction Bollenbach, Special Olympics Canada Vice- 26 The Howard Carter Fund: 20 Years Old President 27 BC Summer Games in the Okanagan 29 SOBC Sponsors Special Olympics BC An Accredited Chapter of Special Olympics Canada #210 – 3701 East Hastings Street Burnaby, BC V5C 2H6 Office: 604-737-3078 Harvey Hunter and Maureen Fax: 604-737-3080 Brinson (centre) with Dan Howe, Toll Free: 1-888-854-2276 President and CEO, Special Email: [email protected] Olympics BC (left); and Mike Website: www.specialolympics.bc.ca Campbell, Chair, Special Olympics BC Board of Directors (right). Special Olympics BC Bulletin ...continued from previous page Hall of Fame, Builder (Local) Category HOW TO As two of the founding members of Special Olympics in Campbell River, Maureen Brinson and Harvey Hunter have been coaching Special Olympics athletes since 1983 and 1985, respectively. They REACH US are strong supporters of athletes of all ability levels creating environments where athletes can achieve personal bests. They have coached and supported athletes in snowshoeing and swimming from the Dan Howe, President & CEO local level right up through provincial and national games to international competitions. Direct Line: 604-737-3079 Beyond coaching, this dynamic duo are key organizers of the Howie Meeker Golf Tournament and Email: [email protected] other local fundraising initiatives. Special Olympics BC President and CEO, Dan Howe sums up their commitment: “Maureen and Harvey are invaluable leaders to Special Olympics BC.” At the Hall of Fame presentation Maureen and Harvey were clearly moved by the recognition. “I have Christina Larson, Vice-President, Fund been coaching for 25 years all because of the athletes. They are an inspiration to me,” Maureen relayed Development & Communications to the audience. Harvey was equally as moved: “It is such an honour to work with Special Olympics Direct Line: 604-737-3073 athletes. From acceptance to generosity, they teach me as much, if not more, than what I teach them!” Email: [email protected] Lois McNary, Vice-President, Sport SOBC – Vancouver Direct Line: 604-737-3117 Special Olympics BC Email: [email protected] Board of Directors makes noise at the Mike Campbell, host of Canada’s #1 Chinese New Year Josh Pasnak, Manager, Finance & financial showMoneyTalks, has been Administration elected for a second term as Chair of the Parade Direct Line: 604-737-3180 Board of Directors of Special Olympics BC. Email: [email protected] Mike has been active with Special Olympics BC since 2003 during which time he has Andrea Coogan, Manager, Fund Development played a very active role in searching out new sources of revenue for the association. Direct Line: 604-737-3056 Email: [email protected] Other members of the Board Executive: Shawn Fevens, Manager, Sport and Youth Past-Chair Michael Coyle, Replay Resorts Development Vice-Chair Pam Keith, Dueck Auto Group Direct Line: 604-737-3055 Secretary Jim Kerr, James D. Kerr Enterprises Treasurer John Sims, Ernst and Young Email: [email protected] Also elected to the Board of Karen Hamilton, Manager, Fund Directors: Development Peter Barnes, Silver Wheaton Corp. Direct Line: 604-737-3131 Grenville Finch-Noyes, Jones Brown Inc. Ted Hirst, Genuity Capital Markets Email: [email protected] Doug Holtby, Arbutus Road Investments Peter Kalbfleisch, Blake, Cassels & Graydon Special Olympics BC was once again thrilled this Betty J. Simpson, Office Administrator Rick Lucy, Abbotsford Police Department year to participate in the Chinatown Chinese Direct Line: 604-737-3078 Colin MacKinnon, BCAA New Year Parade as part of a continued Cathy Priestner-Allinger, VANOC Email: [email protected] friendship established last year with the Dr. Sun Mark Schiefner, ScotiaMcLeod Yat Sen Chinese Classical Garden in Vancouver. Murray Shapiro, Retired Lawyer Leslie Thornley, As “Friends of the Garden”, SOBC marched Regional Field Manager Patty Wheeldon, Leadership Council Chair (Regions 1 and 2) in the Chinese New Year Parade alongside volunteers and staff from the Garden, handing Direct Line: 250-765-6231 Leaving the Board this year were John out Special Olympics BC information, making a Dustan, Jeff Stipec, Glen Wyse, and Chris Email: [email protected] lot of noise and shouting “Gung Hay Fat Choy” Zimmerman. These individuals have all along the route! The brave group of volunteers, made a significant impact on the association Denise Yuen, Manager, Community athletes, and parents/caregivers braved rain and and have given generously of their time sleet for a few hours, but were rewarded with Development and skills. We are very pleased to say that warm smiles and greetings from the crowd Direct Line: 604-737-3125 all have indicated that they will continue and some hot chocolate at the end! Special Email: [email protected] their support and involvement with Special Olympics BC would like to extend a thank you Olympics BC, just in a different capacity. to Constance Barnes and all our friends from the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Garden for the fantastic opportunity. 2 Special Olympics BC Bulletin Hart to Heart CroQUET TOURNAMENT Supporters Set New Record! The Hart to Heart Croquet Tournament, held on September 12, raised that sponsors, donors, participants, and volunteers of the Hart to Heart close to $74,000 for Special Olympics BC setting a new record! The day Croquet Tournament truly enriches the lives of Special Olympics athletes opened on a cheerful note as committee members served up omelettes to through their support. 112 participants. After breakfast, 28 teams of four headed onto the lawns The Hart to Heart Croquet Tournament started 21 years ago, with for a morning of friendly competition. Following a delicious BBQ lunch a small group of dedicated volunteers (many of whom still sit on the and more croquet, participants enjoyed a five-star dinner served by the organizing committee) and a field of teams from local businesses. Back in Hart House, and stayed late into the evening dancing to live music while the early days, they set a target that they weren’t sure they would ever bidding on incredible live and silent auction items. The event featured three reach—to raise $1,000,000 to support charity. Now that they proudly say live bands - Gary Comeau and The Voodoo Allstars, Kenny “Blues Boss” that they have reached that goal the committee has decided it’s time to Wayne, and Angela Kelman and the Polyester Philharmonic. DJ services retire their croquet mallets. were provided by Brian Jackman, with sound provided by Rob Esch. On behalf of Matthew Williams and the 3,500 athletes involved in Magician Rod Boss was also on hand to provide additional entertainment. Special Olympics programs across BC, we would like to extend a sincere Scotiabank volunteers ran the raffle this year, and successfully raised thank you to the many sponsors, donors, participants, and volunteers who enough to get the maximum $6,000 match from Scotiabank! contributed to the success of this incredible event over the years. We For many in attendance, the after-dinner speech given by Special would also like to extend a special thank you to Paul and Carol Smolen, Olympics athlete Matthew Williams was the highlight of the event. owners of the Hart House Restaurant, and their entire staff, for all their Matthew regaled the audience with stories that highlighted the fact hard work and superb service.